The Cosmic Curator 1/29/22: Wake Up

This is your Cosmin Curator, Tom Yaroschuk with an astrological update as seen through the lens of Vedic astrology for today Saturday January 29h and the week ahead.

The spotlight for today is on all the energy packed into the Sign of Sagittarius.
Sagittarius is a mutable fire sign, ruled by the big daddy of all planets, Jupiter. Sag is the half – horse, half human, a seeker of truth, a philosopher, a gambler, The think Big dude of the zodiac. That bow and arrow he carries is ever aimed at hitting the mark. When a planet moves through Sagiarius it exudes hope, optimism, and perhaps even irrational exuberant befitting the specific energy of that planet.

Today the Moon, Mars and Venus are there.

So let’s break it down…

About the Host:
Tom Yaroschuk is a Vedic Astrologer. His intention is to help people understand their karma and the issues they may confront to cultivate more fulfilling lives. Tom is writing a memoir of the spiritual lessons derived from his work in a Homeless Day Center in between a career as an award winning television and documentary producer.

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Coastal Conversations 1/28/22: From the Sea Up (episode 2): Groundfish and Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel

Happy New Year from our team at Coastal Conversations where we are launching season 8 of our show!

For our first show of 2022, we are once again teaming up with The First Coast and the Island Institute to feature the final episode in our series about innovative people in Maine who are sustainably harvesting and growing products from the sea.

First up, we’re talking about Maine’s groundfish fishery, past and present, and the potential that exists, for both fishermen and consumers, to support a diverse local marketplace and help support our fisheries. Then, to wrap up our series, we learn about the mysterious, internationally regulated, strong, and powerful Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, a fishery that leaves a lot of consumers puzzled. Listen up as we untangle these fishing stories and meet some of Maine’s leaders in the seafood marketplace, on the waterfront and at sea.

These stories were produced by Galen Koch of The First Coast as part of an Island Institute podcast called “From the Sea Up.” The podcast is made possible by the Fund for Maine Islands and a partnership between the Island Institute, College of the Atlantic, Luke’s Lobster, Maine Sea Grant and the First Coast. We are grateful to all of them for sharing their stories with Coastal Conversations on WERU

Guests

Thanks for listening to From the Sea Up, presented by the Island Institute and produced by me, Galen Koch. Special thanks to True Fin, Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, and the Island Institute. Special thanks to Brian Pearce and his crew, the Portland Fish Exchange, Ben Martens and Mary Hudson, Kyle Foley, Dr. Walt Golet, Dr. Lisa Kerr, and Elijah Miller, Jen Levin, Pete Speeches and Michael Flynn.”

From the Sea Up is made possible by the Fund for Maine Islands and a partnership between the Island Institute, College of the Atlantic, Luke’s Lobster, Maine Sea Grant, and The First Coast. For more information visit www.islandinstitute.org/podcast

About the host:
Natalie Springuel has hosted Coastal Conversation’s since 2015, with support from the University of Maine Sea Grant where she has served as a marine extension associate for 20 years. In 2019, Springuel received an award for Public Affairs programming from the Maine Association of Broadcasters for the Coastal Conversations show called “Portland’s Working Waterfront.” Springuel is passionate about translating science, sharing stories, and offering a platform for multiple voices to weigh in on complex coastal and ocean issues. She has recently enrolled in audio production training at Maine Media Workshop to dive deeper into making great community radio.

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Awanadjo Almanack 1/28/22: “Midwinter Dreams”

Producer/Host: Rob McCall
Production Assistance: Rebecca McCall

About the host, Rob McCall:

Born in the Black Hills of South Dakota, grew up in Oregon and Illinois. Father was a Scots-Irish preacher, mother a Yankee Congregationalist tracing her ancestry back to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Father taught him about Scripture, mother taught him about Nature.

Bachelor of arts in philosophy, bachelor of divinity in American religious history, graduate studies in education, doctor of ministry in congregational studies, certified in elementary education, tree fruits and entomology.

Worked as an elementary school teacher, tree and landscape contractor, church sexton, orchard manager, chimney sweep, ambulance driver, musician. Began second career as a preacher at age 40. Served as minister of the First Congregational Church of Blue Hill, Maine 1986 – 2014. He is currently chaplain of the Brooklin Fire Department.

Since 1992 has published the weekly Awanadjo Almanack which is broadcast to midcoast Maine and on the web at WERU-FM and appears in a number of publications. His writing has also appeared in Yankee, Down East, Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors, Island Journal and elsewhere.

His first book, Small Misty Mountain, was published in 2006 by Pushcart Press and distributed by W.W. Norton. Publisher’s Weekly called it “by turns inspiring and infuriating.” His second book, Great Speckled Bird, followed in 2012. His third book, Some Glad Morning, was released in October 2020.

Passions include wild plants and animals, and traditional fiddle tunes. Married for 53 years to Rebecca Haley, artist and singer. Father of two, grandfather of two.

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Let’s Talk Animals 1/27/22: Getting to Know the Donkey

Producer/Host: Dr. John Hunt

-Based on the Book: Smart Ass
-Author shares her story of adopting a Donkey
-Stories include the author trying to understand donkey behavior
-How the donkey taught the author a few things about herself

Guest: Margaret Winslow, author of Smart Ass

About the host:

Dr. Hunt is a retired veterinarian that practiced small animal medicine and surgery for 32 years. For twenty six of those years he owned and operated the Bucksport Veterinary Hospital. He graduated from Michigan State University Vet School in 1982, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Conservation from the University of Connecticut in 1974, and a Masters in Zoology at Michigan State in 1976. Although he took special interest in pet behavior problems his primary interest was helping pet owners care for their pets by not only helping them when they were sick but educating, counseling and supporting the family to achieve good pet care.

Dr. Hunt was also a track coach at Bucksport High School for 20+ years, raised his 3 children and loved being part of the Bucksport community. His has written 2 books and currently teaches at the Veterinary Technician program at York County Community College.

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Notes from the Electronic Cottage 1/27/22: More Early 2022 Tech Developments

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

A few more tech developments from the early part of the New Year that might be of interest.

About the host:
Jim Campbell has a longstanding interest in the intersection of digital technology, law, and public policy and how they affect our daily lives in our increasingly digital world. He has banged around non-commercial radio for decades and, in the little known facts department (that should probably stay that way), he was one of the readers voicing Richard Nixon’s words when NPR broadcast the entire transcript of the Watergate tapes. Like several other current WERU volunteers, he was at the station’s sign-on party on May 1, 1988 and has been a volunteer ever since doing an early stint as a Morning Maine host, and later producing WERU program series including Northern Lights, Conversations on Science and Society, Sound Portrait of the Artist, Selections from the Camden Conference, others that will probably come to him after this is is posted, and, of course, Notes from the Electronic Cottage.

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Power for the People: 1/26/22: The Regional Electrical Grid

Producer/Host: Steve Kahl

-ISO-New England
-Public Utility Commision
-renewable energy

Guest: Melissa Birchard, Acadia Center, Boston

About the host:

Steve Kahl is Professor of Science at Thomas College where he teaches environmental and energy courses and advises the student sustainability club. He writes the monthly ‘Sustainability Minute’ email which is distributed to over 1,200 readers. He is a member of the Quarry Road Recreational Area board of directors where he is advocating for a net-zero energy new welcome center. He has advised the board of WERU on the current plan for the station to become 100% solar powered in 2020. Steve is a member of the Green Campus Coalition of Maine, the working group of sustainability directors at Maine college campuses.

Steve’s past positions include Sustainability Director at Unity College where he developed a plan for the college to become 100% solar powered and earned the college the prestigious STARS Gold ranking with the American Association of Sustainability in Higher Education. Before that, he was Director of Environmental and Energy Strategies for the James Sewall Company of Old Town where he led a Maine Technology Institute research project that found that Maine could be 79% solar powered if all suitably-oriented rooftops had solar PV panels.

Prior to moving home to Maine, he was a member of the Energy Commission in Plymouth NH where he was obtained funding for the renovation of a town office building to net-zero energy and the installation of 160 KW of solar PV panels on town properties included a major PV array at the sewage treatment plant that offsets 40% of its electrical costs.

In his own home, he has installed two air-source heat pumps to completely eliminate heating oil, a hybrid hot water heater to reduce his water heating costs by 70%, and insulated the basement and attic to further reduce energy consumption and increase comfort. He would like to install rooftop solar panels but so far his shade trees that also produce maple syrup each year have convinced him otherwise. However, he has solar panels on his summer place at the lake and hasn’t paid for any electricity there since 2011.

Steve has a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from the University of Maine.

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Wabanaki Windows 1/25/22: ‘Unpacking Sovereignty’ (10th in a series)

Producer/Host: Donna Loring
Production assistance: Jessica Lockart, WMPG

-Early 20th Century issues
-Citizenship Choices
-Contradictions/Proctor Report 1942

Guests: Professors Harald Prins Historian and expert on Wabanaki History University of Nebraska, Dr. Darren Ranco, Asoc Prof of Anthropology and Chair of Native American Programs University of Maine

About the host:

Donna M Loring is a Penobscot Indian Nation Tribal Elder, and former Council Member. She represented the Penobscot Nation in the State Legislature for over a decade. She is a former Senior Advisor on Tribal Affairs to Governor Mills. She is the author of “In The Shadow of The Eagle A Tribal Representative In Maine”. Donna has an Annual lecture series in her name at the University of New England that addresses Social Justice and Human Rights issues. In 2017 She received an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Humane Letters from the University of Maine Orono and was given the Alumni Service Award. It is the most prestigious recognition given by the University of Maine Alumni Association. It is presented Annually to a University of Maine graduate whose life’s work is marked by outstanding achievements in professional, business, civic and/or Public service areas

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